Train collides with truck near Dixie Highway in Erlanger

ERLANGER – A train collision Sunday evening with a Ford pickup truck on the Erlanger/Elsmere border left one man in the hospital with undisclosed injuries.

Erlanger Police wouldn't release the name or condition of the driver of the pickup truck.

A Norfolk Southern train broadsided the pickup truck as it crossed the railroad crossing at Stevenson Road just off Dixie Highway in Erlanger at about 7:30 p.m.

The train pushed the car about 100 yards before stopping. The driver was the truck's only occupant and was transported to University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Witnesses told police the railroad crossing was working at the time of the crash, said Sgt. Jon Sterling with the Erlanger Police. Sterling said he doesn't know why the pickup truck was on the tracks when the train went through.

Norfolk Southern had performed maintenance "on and off"" for the past week at the intersection, Sterling said.

"We have witnesses that say the crossing arms were working, " Sterling said. "We don't know the reason why he was crossing."

Sterling wouldn't estimate the speed of the train. The train, which had cars labeled "Triple Crown," is known by some residents as a fast train that speeds through the neighborhood.

While they see many trains run through their neighborhood, many residents said they've never seen a train crash before.

"I don't recall any accidents being reported down here before," said Helen Focke, who lives near the railroad crossing. "You just don't try to beat that train. It goes pretty fast,"

The crash brought many residents out of their homes to watch the police, firefighters and railroad workers clean up the scene. The train with the truck pinned up front remained on the tracks blocking Stevenson Road as of 10 p.m. Sunday.

"My prayers are with the family," said resident Mary Phillips. "Hopefully somebody made it. It's sad."